Calligraphic device.



J. M. REARDON & E. B. BERGESON.

CALLIGRAPHIC DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 9. 1916.

1 ,217,063 Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

WITNESSES v INVENT R6 ,4 TIORNE Y8 riniran sraras PATENT GFFEQE;

JOHN MICHAEL REARDON, OF CHICO, CALIFORNIA, AND EMIL BERNHARDT BERGESON',

OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

CALLIGRAPHIC DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN MIOHAEL Rnannox and EMIL Benximnn'r Bnnensox, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Chico, in the county of Butte and State-of California, and Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Tashington, respectively, have invented a new and Improved calligraphic Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to calligraphic devices and has reference more particularly to a device of this kind for insuring correct and normal penn'ianship. More specifically the invention relates to a calligraphic device which comprises a body having means for attachment to a writing implement and means for effecting the proper positioning of the fingers relative to the instrument.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective calligraph instrument which can be inexpensively manufactured, which can readily be applied to pens, pencils or other writing implements of different kinds and sizes; which insures a correct positioning of the fingers relative to the writing implement, and which can be advantageously used in the teaching of penmanship and the correction of faults in writing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which, in -a large measure, obviates writers cramp; which serves to prevent finger movement in writing and makes necessary the use of the free arm and hand movement and which prevents the gripping of. the writing implement with the forefinger and thumb abnormally crooked.

A still further object of the invention is to' provide a calligraphic device for the purposes above specified which has incorporated therein a clip serving to securely attach the writing implement in the pocket of the user to prevent accidental loss.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be described hereinafter and more particularly, in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patgntgd Feb, 20, 191% Application filed May 9, 1916.

Serial No; 96,413.

teaching of hand writing or penmanship, it

can also be advantageously employed by those who no longer need such instruction as it insures a normal use of the fingers and thumb in writing and eliminates and prevents undue strain and practically obviates writers cramp. It is well known that the so-ca-lled'free hand and arm movement is most desirable in writing and that such movement cannot be readily acquired unless finger movement is minimized. One of the advantages of our device lies therein that by positively positioning the fingers correctly, unnatural crooking of the same and incidental finger movement are avoided.

We prefer to fashion the calligraphic device from sheet metal or similar material stamped from a blank and bent to form. However, we do not wish to limit ourselves to this or other particular details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, om calligraphic device comprises a body or back 10 of elongated form and hav-- ing at ends, oppositely disposed, upwardly disposed and inwardly bent extensions 11 and 12. These extensions are of arcuate form and we prefer to fashion a device of such material that the extensions have inherent resiliency. Thus they form in effect, gripping clips to secure the device in position upon a pen or pencil at any desired part of the length thereof.

Intermediate the extensions 12, the body of the device has an elongated lateral extension 13 which is slightly tapered and is preferably of arcuate cross section. The ex tension 13 is of substantial length and is slightly offset downwardly from the body 10. At the opposite side, the body has a corresponding extension 14, which, however, is downwardly ofi'set a substantial distance below the extension 13. The element 14 is slightly tapered and of arcuate cross section but is of materially less length han the extension 13.

At one end the body has a longitudinal tapered extension 1.5, which is offset near its junction with the body. This extension has a rounded extremity 16 and is inclined with respect to the length of the body. Depending; upon the materialtrom which the device is fashioned, the extension 15, which forms a pocket clip, possesses the necessary resiliency for that purpose.

lVhen the calligraphic device is in use, it is mounted upon a writing implement as shown in Fig. 1, with the pocket clip end of the device remote from the point of the writing implement. The pen or pencil is grasped in the usual manner with the thumbextension 14: resting upon the inner side of the thumb and the extension 13 extending under the index finger and resting upon the middle finger of the hand adjacent to and preferably, slightly below the middle joint. The device thus insures that the thumb and fingers grasp the writing implement in normal positions. Furthermore, the strain is in a measure removed from the first finger and the pressure is distributed to the thumb and middle finger. A further advantage of our invention lies in the fact that it necessitates the holding of the writing implement at the proper angle and in a straight and natural manner.

Having thus described our invention we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A device of the class described, comprising a. body having means for attachment to a writing implement, and oppositely disposed thumb and finger engaging members extended at ubstantially right angles to the axis of said pen engaging means, said thumb and finger engaging members being out of alinement, one above and one below the axis of the pen engaging means, whereby the thumb of a user will be held inwardly of the lingers in its natural. position for writing.

JOHN MICHAEL REARDON. EMIL BERHARDT BERGESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. 0. 

